When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Although I haven't been posting in this thread, I have been following through it page by page, with not much more useful technical information any more than you've already figured out on your own. And that's why I've been quiet.
With regards to your brother. I can relate very well what your family is going through. I was estranged from my parents for eight years..... until I received a phone call from my uncle about my dad falling I'll. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was an interesting year. The last three months of 2013 were memorable. Then, the first month of 2014 was when he passed. To be honest, I still can't believe he's gone at only 70.
Kudos to you and your entire family for stepping up to the plate for your brother. For my two cents worth, enjoy your brother, enjoy your family, enjoy your truck. And most important of all, look after your health (that includes your mental health).
I have been in remission for about 2 1/2 years. By the time they figured out I had lymphoma and started chemo treatment I had lost about 45 pounds and could not walk down the driveway to get the mail, about 700 ft.
By the time I had completed chemo I had dropped another 25 pounds. 2.5 years later, I still have not fully recovered, but so far I am cancer free and blessed.
Always sad to read these things, but just remember these times are short, the better times are the ones you will always remember and take with you wherever you go.
Today was one of the dwindling "good days". My other brothers loaded him up into the Redneck Limousine along with 2 of my boys and me, then we went cruising!
Big Bro wasn't feeling like getting up yesterday to watch a parade, so the kiddos put on their own parade in the front yard just outside his window! He had way more fun than a grown man should throwing candy at the parade participants!
... Oh, and I put a flag on the aerial and took the wife for a ride in the big absurd truck:
Last weekend my sisters and sister-in-law took over caring for big brother so Wife and I could take the kiddos out of town to run a half marathon. On the drive home, I noticed the steering felt sloppy, so I crawled underneath to recheck the torque on all of the new lift components. Everything was tight except for one REALLY important fastener: the pitman arm nut! I bought a new one from Ford and I bought a huge socket set from Hobo Freight, but then I had to cut the 1 13/16" socket down to fit, because of the track bar drop bracket. Once I finally got enough grunt mustered to tighten the new nut to 350 ft/lbs, I installed the old nut over it, in an attempt to prevent the possibility of the new one loosening.
I'm feeling a mix of emotions that I never thought you could feel at the same time. My heart is broken, yet I'm relieved that my closest childhood friend, cohort in crime, and brother is finally done hurting. I also feel joy knowing that he tried his hardest to do right in this life, and that if anyone is fit for a place in our Father's kingdom, he is.
I was by his side every moment of his last 24 hours, and held his hand as he fought for his last breath. Several weeks ago during a moment of lucidity, he expressed a desire to be laid to rest next to our dad, in Montana. In spite of living in Utah, California, and Pennsylvania over the past 20 years, Montana has always remained his home. Because of this, after the funeral in utah, I'm going to load him into the big black pickup we built and take him for one last road trip together back to our hometown to be laid to rest. What better chariot is there for a last ride than this?
07-01-2018, 08:07 AM
